CPU usage spikes (100%) and windows lags terribly

[jamst149]

I have a Dell inspiron e1505. 2 gb RAM.

Essentially I am getting seemingly random spikes in my cpu usage where it ramps up to 100% and windows basically freezes for an extended period of time. Sometimes I simply have 1 google chrome tab open with no other apps actively running in the foreground and I get these cpu spikes. I just did a clean install of windows 7 to try and eradicate this and it persists. I am at a loss as to what the problem is. What is odd is even though the cpu usage spikes at 100% my available memory is almost always nearly around 50% still. So I am just not sure what is happening.

Here is a link to another forum where someone else was trying to help (unfortunately to no avail) High CPU usage, programs crashing, windows hanging - Tech Support Forum

Anyway like I said I eventually just did a clean install but the problem persists. Since the clean install I have not noticed and flash problems with chrome (as per the tech support forum thread) just random cpu spikes.

Any help is much appreciated

 

[lazzer408]

Have you open task manager to see what process is using the CPU at the time your load is 100%?

How to use and troubleshoot issues with Windows Task Manager

 

[jamst149]

Yeah. No one thing continually pops up. That's why I am so confused.

 

[lazzer408]

Could be the hardware doing it then. Try turning off power management for your hard disk. Also run a utility to check the smart data and see if the drive is relocating sectors. Could be the drive dying. http://www.urltoy.com/download/psc.exe